The second of three ‘dialogues’ on the subject, it summarises an event held in June 2014 that was hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation with the participation of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice.

Key points

The science behind climate justice is still being defined and articulated. But discourse on climate justice is supported by three key pillars: climate change, human rights and global development.

Climate justice can be seen in terms of an examination of risks, rights and responsibilities. What risks are faced and by whom? What rights to development and human fulfilment do individuals and communities have? And what responsibilities should institutions, businesses and individuals exercise?

A key part of that conversation about rights and responsibilities is the position of future generations. Climate justice implies that future generations have rights that must be upheld by the generations that precede them. As yet there is no clear means to achieve this through law or policy.

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A unique organisation

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is an independent social change organisation working to solve UK poverty. Uniquely, we also run a housing association and care provider, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust.